Abstract: A holster (100) for receiving a pager (220) having an protrusion (225) comprises a housing (105) having an interior surface (205) and an exterior surface (210), the interior surface (205) forming a cavity (215) for receiving the pager (220). A flexible arm (110) is affixed to the housing (105) and moves between a first position wherein the flexible arm (110) engages the pager protrusion (225) when the pager (220) is within the cavity (215) and a second position wherein the flexible arm (110) is deflected by the pager protrusion (225) as the pager (220) is inserted into or removed from the cavity (215). A belt clip (230) mounted to the housing (105) secures the holster (100) to an article. The belt clip (230) selectably contacts the flexible arm (110) and exerts a pressure thereto which increases the force needed to deflect the flexible arm (110) when the pager ( 220) is inserted into or removed from the cavity (215).

Abstract: A control station 12 initiates a system timing signal transmission which is re-transmitted from a satellite 14. In response to receiving the system timing signal, the control station 12 then generates a time correction factor which is distributed to a plurality of transmission stations 16, 18. The transmission stations 16, 18 in response to receiving the system timing signal transmission and the time correction factor distributed from the control station 12 generate a time adjustment factor which is used to correct the local transmission clocks 36, 36', thereby providing time synchronization of data transmissions generated from the transmission stations 16, 18.

Abstract: A communication system is described which provides call queueing between a base station (400) which does not have a control channel and a plurality of portable communication handsets (401). The base station (400) determines when all channels are busy, and following one becoming available, transmits a first predetermined code. All portable communication handsets (401) which attempted to communicate with the base station (400) when all channels were busy, sets a queue mode flag, and starts a timer (455, 461). When a first predetermined code is detected by any handset (401) having attempted to establish communication with the base station (400), the first timer (455, 461) continues, and a second timer (455, 461) operating at a second rate is started at the value established by the first timer (455, 461). When the second timer (455, 461) value reaches a predetermined value, the handset (401) proceeds to attempt to establish communication with the base station (400) on the channel that became available.

Abstract: A selective call receiver system includes a plurality of base sites capable of simultaneous operation. Each base site includes a transmitter and a base receiver capable of measuring the signal strength of a received signal. A controller coupled to the plurality of base sites, forwards an address to the plurality of base sites. The transmitters thereafter, simultaneously transmit the address to at least one of a plurality of selective call receivers having acknowledge-back capability. At least one of the plurality of base receivers receive an acknowledge-back signal from the at least one of the selective call receivers responding to the transmitted address. The signal strength of the acknowledge-back signal is detected by the plurality of base receivers receiving the acknowledge-back signal.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (200) is capable of receiving messages and storing the messages for subsequent retrieval by a user. The selective call receiver (200) assigns a status designation (706) and a chronological order (704) to each stored message, and further prioritizes the messages in a sequential order being prioritized first by a priority of the status designation (706) assigned to the messages and then further prioritized therewithin according to the chronological order (704) assigned to the messages. The selective call receiver (200) then presents the messages to the user in the sequential order for the messages.

Abstract: A selective call receiver (10) for receiving a radio frequency message having message characters includes a memory (14) for storing information including predetermined message characters and processing circuitry (13) for determining an amount of available space within the memory (14) in response to reception of a message. When the available space within the memory (14) is insufficient for storage of the message characters included within the received message, one or more of the message characters included within the received message is deleted prior to storing the received message. Alternatively, one or more message characters included within a previously stored message may be deleted prior to storing the received message.

Abstract: A simulcast transmission system (10) and method provides for time synchronizing data transmissions from a plurality of transmission stations (16, 18). The transmission stations (16, 18) include transmission clocks (36) for controlling the time of transmission of synchronization timing signals and data. The synchronization timing signals indicate a local time of transmission which are transmitted in response to system timing signals received from the control station (12). The control station (12) comprises apparatus (20) for generating and distributing the system timing signals, apparatus (26) for receiving the synchronization timing signals from the transmission stations, and apparatus (20, 22, 28) for generating and distributing time adjustment factor signals to the transmission stations (16, 18) in response to receiving the synchronization timing signals. The transmission clocks (36) are adjusted in response to the time adjustment factor signals for controlling the time of transmission of the data signals.

Abstract: A signalling system provides for efficient reception of message by a plurality of Earth based selective call receivers such as pagers. The signals are transmitted from satellites in orbit above the Earth. Each satellite includes a multiple lobe antenna capable of transmitting messages to a selected portion of the surface of the Earth. Methods for conserving satellite transmission power in the communication of message information are described. Furthermore, a signalling protocol transmitted by the satellite provides for power conservation by Earth based selective call receivers. Additionally, a method enabling an area of the Earth to receive messages from multiple satellites is described.

Abstract: An improved selective call addressing scheme provides local mode paging capability in a wide area paging network. A selective call receiver used in this system will configure its operating parameters by selecting one of a plurality of operational personalities in response to the presence or absence of a specific received signal having a signal indicative of the area in which the pager is operating.

Abstract: A non-contact pager programming system includes a controller (30) which is responsive to command and data signals to generate first signals (34) including command and data words to govern a transmitting circuit (36) to transmit over the air a programming signal (46) digitally modulated in accordance with a reception protocol. The programming system may also include a receiving circuit (42) which is governed by at least one second signal (40) generated by the controller to receive over-the-air signals (52) generated by the pager being programmed in response to the programming signal.

Abstract: In a battery powered selective call receiver receiving a synchronous signal, a battery saving method extends battery life by optimizing the amount of time the receiver circuit is activated when searching for the signal after previously acquiring synchronization. The battery saving method allows for turning the selective call receiver on without activating the receiver circuit. The receiver circuit is activated at a time later than the energization of the selective call receiver, where the time of activation of the receiver circuit is determined in response to the time passed since synchronization was last acquired and the system signal stability.

Abstract: An enclosure latch system includes an insertable member (106) connected to a first enclosure section (102), and a mating recess (108) within a second enclosure section (104) for engaging with the insertable member (106), thereby latching the first and second enclosure sections (102, 104) together. The insertable member (106) includes an extender member (202) connected at an attachment end to the first enclosure section (102) for extending the insertable member (106) into the second enclosure section (104), and a latch tooth (204) protruding from the extender member (202) near a free end. The latch tooth (204) has a mating surface (206, 208) that tapers from flat on a first side to cylindrical on a second side opposite the first side for latching the first and second enclosure sections (102, 104) when the latch tooth (204) is in the mating recess (108).

Abstract: A battery saving apparatus selectively supplies power to each receiver function of a battery powered communication receiver at predetermined time intervals prior to and continuing therefrom for enabling the reception of the coded message signals with each receiver function being powered only as long as is required for each receiver function to stabilize prior to the reception of the coded message signals.

Abstract: A carrier (10) for receiving a portable product (20) having a protruding member (24) on at least one of the surfaces of the portable product comprises a housing (2) having a recessed area (4) and an aperture (19) therein having rails (13) therein and a removably insertable latch assembly for insertion into the aperture. The latch assembly comprises a flexible member (6) that allows the insertion of a portion of the latch assembly into the aperture and allows the mounting of the flexible member in the recessed area, a boss (3, 5, 7, & 8) having a ramp (8) and a notch (7) coupled to the flexible member for sliding the latch assembly on the rails, and a spring (9) coupled to the boss for biasing the latch assembly in a first position (FIG. 7 ) and allowing the latch assembly to travel to a second position (FIG.

Abstract: A radio frequency programmable selective call receiver (100) provides a received signal having a recovered address, a command code, and a programming field. A decoder determines selection of the selective call receiver in response to correlating the recovered address (403) with a predetermined address stored in a non-volatile memory (107) that includes a plurality of registers for storing a plurality of configuration words which determine operational characteristics of the selective call receiver (100). A controller (105) selects and executes a bulk programming mode (1004) when a recovered data word (503) is unmasked, or a selective programming mode (1008, 1009, 1010, 1011, 1012) when the recovered data word (503) is masked. The bulk programming mode modifies at least one programmable option of the selective call receiver (100) by re-writing all programmable options in the range of a plurality of registers with data included in the unmasked data word.

Abstract: A housing (202, 602) for an electronic device (700) comprises a battery compartment door (604) having a one-piece molded latch (100). The latch (100) comprises a slide member (102) coupled to a snap member (104) formed substantially in the shape of a U. The snap member (104) comprises a mounting end (106) forming the bottom of the U, and two snap arms (108) forming the two sides of the U. The snap member (104) is supported at a distance from the slide member (102), the distance being sufficient to clear walls of the housing (202). The latch (100) further comprises a header block (112) coupled to the slide member (102) between the two snap arms (108) for minimizing deflection of the two snap arms (108) towards the slide member (102) during assembly of the latch (100).

Abstract: An analog to digital converter (200, 300, 400) comprises a sink current circuit (200, 438, 440, 442) responsive to an input voltage for generating at least two sink currents. A source current circuit (300, 404, 406, 408, 418, 420, 422, 456, 458, 460) for generating at least three weighted source currents is coupled to the sink current circuit at summing nodes (424, 426, 428) in order to produce at least two digital output signals (D0, D1, D2). A switching circuit (444, 446, 448) is coupled to the source current circuit for enabling selected source currents in response to the digital output signals.

Abstract: An electronic device (100) includes a housing (222) and a piezo-bender (400). The piezo-bender (400) includes a metal beam (402) having at least a portion of a surface mechanically coupled to a piezo-ceramic layer (304). The piezo-bender (400) is flexibly coupled to the housing (222) at an end of the metal beam (402) forming a cantilever structure. A vibratable body (404) is mechanically coupled to the other end of the metal beam (402). A tuning slide (604) is slidably coupled to the piezo-bender (400) for mechanically tuning the resonant frequency of vibration of the piezo-bender (400) by varying the length of the piezo-bender (400) that can vibrate. An electrical drive circuit (708) is electrically coupled to the piezo-bender (400) for electrically driving the piezo-bender (400) with a drive signal to generate vibratory motion in the piezo-bender (400) for providing a vibratory alert.